Restoration - Day 3

Day 3 - Restoration (14.01.17)

Back seat out and looking a bit tired. This thing is stupid heavy!

Brackets under the seat, perhaps to store the crank handle? Not sure

Back seat brackets in pretty good shape

You just know these are parts that if you loose them, you just aren't going to be able to find replacements

Grrrrr!!!!! I am sure these floor fixings were a good idea at the time, but it look over an hour to drill every one of them out!

Seatbox sides are a bit ratty so replacements will be fitted. This one wasn't even bolted in!

Casualty to corrosion, missing corner

Trailer light wiring photographed and cut.  The new wiring harness will replace all this

Under-seat battery tray is rusted through and metal tray just shoved in

Underside of battery tray

Seatbox and rear floor removed, finally the chassis can be seen

Interesting that the graphics rail stabilises the b-pillars, kinda like impact protection, haha

Here ends day three.....

Restoration, Day 2

Day 2 - Restoration (08.01.17)

Today was a fantastic day with a lot achieved thanks to help from two friends. As they say, many hands make light work.

First task for the day was to remove the head-lining, trim and sun visors. The vinyl was very brittle and will need to be replaced 

Rear headlining intact but very brittle and torn

Next, removal of all the bolts holding on the roof.  All but three of the many bolts objected to being removed, two snapped and one very strange bolt saw its demise via an angle grinder.  Despite the nut being held firmly on the back side, and a ratchet on the bolt, it turned and turned but never loosened or tightened, perhaps it was a mis-matched pair?

Roof finally comes loose once the endless amounts of silicon is cut, scrapped and pried off

It's summer and Leif has shed a few pounds and gotten his top off!

End of day: roof and side panels off, as well as the tow hitch which was an absolute nightmare taking two of us over 30 minutes of hard labour

Throughout the day it became evident that the passenger side b-pillar is absolutely stuffed. It is riddled with rust and will need to be replaced. Thankfully, I have a spare!  It appears the roof has leaked at this location for a long time, and silicon has been applied more than once to try to plug the leak with disastrous results. Unsurprisingly, it was this b-pillars bolts that snapped and needed to be cut out.

What seems a bit odd was that both b-pillars show signs of yellow paint not seen anywhere else on the vehicle.  The passenger side I had suspected could be a replacement with further evidence of repairs clearly seen on the tub, but that does not explain the driver's side being yellow.

Mystery yellow paint on passenger side b-pillar

To remove the passenger rear side panel an enormous drinking water tank needed to be removed first. I must say it is a very impressive tank, having been custom made to fit inside the side panel maximising the tank capacity, it has baffles for strength and is beautifully crafted.  I will, however, not be reinstalling it, but I do not want to see it go to waste.

 Water tank removed, volume unknown, but one could go on a long expedition and not be thirsty

 Very neat rivet lines and folded corners

Shaped for maximum capacity

With the water tank out, it is clear to see what the second body skin is hiding; I wonder what caused these?

With the water tank out, holes in the original tub skin can be seen.....

.... and tool box revealed

mmmmmm, yummy! 40+ years of dirt and dried up rubber seals

Ending on a high, some beautifully preserved Mid-Grey paintwork

Leif moves into the 21st Century

Due to me being unable to drive Leif as he has no road license, he has not been able to stretch his legs and therefore the battery is getting low.  I need to keep his strength up so that I can start him up and move him back and forward to ensure that the clutch does not seize up again, however sitting outside it is not possible to plug him into a mains charger, and having the battery in the house to charge is not an option, so I decided to buy a solar charger to keep him alive.

I have never used one before, but it seemed like a great solution to the problem, so with it placed and connected to the battery I hope to be able to start up Leif over the weekend, I will keep you posted.

As it says "free power from the sun", I like free!

This is certainly the shiniest thing about Leif!

The solar cell is supposed to be located outside, but I am going to keep it locked up safe inside. If however, it doesn't work as well, I will relocate.

The results are in.  After a week catching a few hours of winter sun Leif is ALIVE!!!!  Check out my video:

Ready for the weekend

Following last week's exciting parts find, I am returning to the same place tomorrow to dig a bit deeper and see what else I can find.

Before bringing more parts home, I thought it was best to reduce the mounting pile residing on my verandah, which several days ago copped the disapproving comment of ".... are you starting a salvage yard?" from my Father in Law.  Honestly, some people have no appreciation of historical artefacts, haha!

Last weekend's "Historical Artefacts" after a good wash and dead bug removal 

So, in keeping with the saying "a picture says a thousand words", here is a photo diary of Leif's replacement door install.  I will admit the colour match is off a bit, and the hinges still need aligning, but I will sort that out when the hinge repair kits I have ordered arrive from the UK.

"Beauty is only skin deep." This was certainly true for Leif's passenger door.  The external skin was relatively crease and blemish free, but the frame behind it was in a terrible state.

Yuk...

...YUK...

...YUKIER...

...YUKIST!!!

This is supposed to be the sliding window channel!

Off with her head! Well, door top to start with

Door bottom removed, and pre-owned door is ready to be installed

Pre-owned panels installed and working.  

Paint will come later, probably in line with the time I win Lotto, haha

This simple process has made me realise that I need to correct my terminology.  Previously I have referred to Leif as a "restoration" project, perhaps "renovation" may be more fitting as she will not be returned to her former glory, rather she will be given a new lease of life.  

Further to this, I have had several Tyrobenz followers ask why I refer to Leif as a "she" considering the masculinity of the vehicle and the origins of the name.  I had always thought all modes of transport were female as they are in the french language, but to keep the peace I have done some research and it's time for Leif to have a sex-change.  From here on she will be a he, and he will be a renovation project!

Click here to find out the origin of the name Leif

Have a great weekend everyone!

  

Introducing Leif

Well, she is here, and just in time to celebrate New Year's Eve at her new home.

Lief arrived at the Tyro Workshop on Tuesday 30th December, having survived the 420km trip from Denmark in the beautiful South West region of Western Australia, via Cannington on the outskirts of Perth, before the last short leg to me.  I wish to thank the previous owner, Farr's Transport of Denmark and Perth Tow for your efforts in getting her home.

Leif & Leif at Farr's Transport yard, Denmark WA

I first used Perth Tow to deliver Jade several months back and I was very happy to use Steve's services again, not only because he is a decent bloke, but also because he loves the breed of dog that I have, a West Highland Terrier, so we have lots to chat about.

My dog "Poppy" and UGU on our Wedding Day 2012

Leif gets delivered thanks to Steve of Perth Tow

With anyone who buys a vehicle unseen, the first thing you don't want to hear the when she gets dropped off is the truck driver saying "you know she has no brakes..."!! Errrr, no I didn't know that.

Initially I started to get very nervous - what had I bought? But as I sat behind the wheel for the first time, and Steve lowered Leif off the flat bed using the winch, it dawned on me that this is exactly what I want, a project.  By the time all four tyres touched the bitumen my excitement had returned and I knew what my second task would be - fix the brakes. What's the first task you ask, a good wash of course haha!

Perth Tow: Steve Harshaw

Tel: 0458 226 088

Email: oneale67@hotmail.com

Perth Tow Facebook Page

Evolution - Tyrobenz Two Point Zero, A

As with everything in the world, evolution is constant.  TyroBenz is not exempt from this phenomenon.

For those of you who have read my introduction "About TyroBenz" you will have read about the first vehicle I drove, not a Benz, but a Land Rover.  My passion for them, with their rugged simplicity has never ceased, and following my brief relationship with Jade, I felt the need to have a project that I could breathe new life into, rather than destroying a thing of beauty.

As you know, my technical ability is a work in progress, and I found Jade to be quite complicated, so I set my mind to thinking about what I could work on: What is the simplest vehicle you can think of?  Yep, you guessed it, an early Land Rover.

I read an article on-line not so long ago which had a great piece of advice, ".... if you are going to buy a project vehicle, make sure it is not a duplication of what you have already....."

This is great advice, and as the article pointed out if you already have a classic coupe for example, and get another one, what are you going to do with it? You cannot drive both cars to the same venue, yet if your new project is something different, it will keep you passionate about it as it has a purpose onto itself.

Back when I was 18 or 19, I bought my very first Land Rover, it was a 1995 300TDI Defender 90, in British racing green, with a white roof and country spec windows.  I owned her for the next 8 years, right up until I left for Australia.  I loved it, and was actively involved in the Northern Ireland Land Rover Club where we drove all over the county taking on challenging off-road tracks, as well as event trials at the clubs own disused quarry.  It was fantastic fun. If you have never driven a Land Rover off-road I recommend it, they can go anywhere with the right person in the driver's seat.

 My 1995 Defender 90 300TDI

(For those of you reading in the UK, the number plate was a personalised one so does not refer to the age of the vehicle)

One summer I joined an expedition that saw us take the ferry from Belfast to Liverpool, drive down through England to Dover, before taking another ferry crossing to main land Europe.  Over the following two weeks we drove through France, into Italy and up to Geneva before heading home.  It was the trip of a life time.

The expedition was during the summer time and therefore "off season", turning the slopes of Val d'Isere from beautiful ski runs, into a muddy and exhilarating off-road centre. From here we could look across to the spectacular Mont Blanc!

I found it impossible to get the see-saw to balance but it was a lot of fun

It's time to get muddy!!

Whilst in Italy we climbed switchback tracks to a height of over 9,000ft, stopping every so often to vent our fuel tanks due to the atmospheric pressure.  Some of the petrol powered Landy's didn't quite make it to the top as the air was so thin, but thankfully I was in a diesel so we kept climbing.

Switchback roads in Italy

As the track got narrower, and the drops steeper the guys in the long wheel base vehicles started wishing they were in a SWB!

Once at the top we were all warned of the risks of getting out of our vehicles and running about, we were to walk slowly and not exert ourselves but it wasn't long before we were all taking turns to see how far we could drive up the glacier. Like I said, it was amazing.

Ice, Ice Baby!

During my ownership of my Defender, my brother, a friend and I also bought a short wheel base Series 2A Land Rover which we restored over a summer, rebuilding it on a galvanised chassis as the old one had some rust issues. I can however not take credit for the way she looks today as my brother has continued the restoration to a very high standard.  She is beautiful.

For the part of the restoration I was involved in, my memory is that it was far from difficult, a full size Mechano set for big boys.

Restored Series 2A shivering in the snow, December 2010

My brother still uses her on a regular basis and takes her to military shows, photographed here at Killyleagh Castle, August 2014

So, not long after Jade departed on a trailer I was back on Gumtree looking for a friend for UGU.  I looked at a fantastic Series 3 Station Wagon who had been in the same family since new, but unfortunately I missed out on it, so the search continued.

Over the next weeks plenty of short wheel-base vehicles popped up for sale, but I really fancied a long wheelbase station wagon, which I think is a lot more practical given it's second row of seats and boot space.

Eventually I widened my search area and up popped a 1969 (same year as UGU) Series 2A Station Wagon in Denmark WA, some 420km from where I live.  I was excited and called the owner who was really nice, and passionate about the Land Rover. Like many classic car owners the right buyer is more important than the money.

I really wanted her, but I am not much of a risk taker so after a week of painful contemplation I decided not to take the risk, I was gutted and annoyed at myself.

As the weeks rolled on and work got busier and busier I couldn't stop thinking about the Denmark Land Rover, noticing the ad was still on Gumtree.  On Sunday afternoon, I once again contacted the owner to see if it was sold and if he perhaps hadn't taken the ad down, or if indeed she was still for sale.  Fortunately for me, unfortunately for my wife, he still had it, so I bought it.

I am preparing for a nerve racking Christmas as I wait to see what it is that I have bought, hoping that the photographs I have seen are a true representation of her condition.  As of this morning, Tuesday 23rd December, the owner has dropped her off at the local haulage company who are going to bring her to Perth next week. I am so excited!

So here she is, Leif the Landy (named after her previous owner); a 1969 Land Rover Series 2A Station Wagon.

What I know so far is that I am the fourth owner, she is an original six cylinder model but now has a Holden Blue 202 motor with a Series 3 synchromesh gearbox.

I can't wait to meet her, and hopefully you will all continue to follow my adventures with UGU and now Leif as Tyrobenz moves up a notch to "two point zero, A".